Question
Dear Dr. Gillman,

I was wondering what you would recommend.

My orthopaedic surgeon says I have spondylolthesis.  I do feel tingling going down both legs...it first only started in my left leg.  

However, I feel like in my lower thoracic there is more of an issue there because my mobility becomes limited in that area when I bend over and lift my feet to put my socks on, let alone the pain I feel directly when I press there.  That is also where I noticed pain for the very first time in my back after I visited a massage therapist who decided to play chiropractor and started pushing down very hard onto my back.

He also worked on my neck too like a chiropractor and ever since then I have twitching in my delts.

I was wondering what you recommend I could do.  My orthopaedic surgeon will not order a thoracic or cervical mri for me and he and the rest of his staff told me that there is nothing wrong with my back (yet I never had pain ever in my back)

I also have changes in my urinary habits (I can urinate fine but then it stops and I either have to squeeze with my muscles the rest or I have to really shimmy).  I don't know if this could be stemmed from my back as well or it could be due to something like my prostate.  I am 28.

Even though at the moment it is not a life altering injury I'm afraid it could be debilitating, as well I am afraid of having to live with some level of chronic pain.  

Looking for any recommendations.  Much appreciation for you wonderful response to my last question.

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Answer
Hi Richard,

First of all, you do not have any spondylo-listhesis (or forward slipping of one vertebra on the other).    It is hard to tell if you have a spondylo-lysis (or breaking of the part of the vertebra called a pars interarticularis).   Spondy means "Spine."   The x-rays are not appropriate for your condition.   It will not tell you what the problem is.   MRI is the rule and x-rays are only useful to look for fracture or dislocation, e.g. you have pain from falling off your roof.   You don't use x-ray on a 28 year old with back pain and leg paresthesias.    If you don't have an MRI of your lumbar spine, that's what is likely needed.   Also, someone has to do a more thorough examination of your condition to determine if you have a nerve problem, a disc problem, spine instability (google: "prone instability test, lumbar spine."), etc.   X-rays will do none of this.    Maybe find a good sports chiropractor:  www.acbsp.com and get your back looked at.  Tell the massage therapist that they could lose their license by doing joint manipulation when they have no training in it (and they are not doctors).    

'Hope this helps.

Dr. G